Abyan (South24 Center)

The annual heritage and cultural festival in Yafa opened on Saturday, May 30, at the historic Al-Qarah Castle in Rasd District, Abyan Governorate, drawing community leaders, Southern figures, descendants of former ruling families, and large crowds from Yafa and other areas of South Yemen.

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قلعة القارة بيافع احتضنت أمس مهرجان القارة التراثي السادس بحضور رسمي وجماهيري واسع#south24 pic.twitter.com/pb3lZSwqoG

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Held every year on the fourth day of Eid al-Adha, the festival is one of Yafa’s most prominent cultural events. It brings together folk performances, poetry, handicrafts, traditional cuisine, and social gatherings aimed at preserving local heritage and strengthening ties among communities across the region.

This year’s opening ceremony was attended by descendants of former Yafa sultanate families, whose ancestors ruled parts of the region before the establishment of the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen in 1967. Political, social, and military figures also attended the event, along with representatives of the local authority and the Southern Transitional Council (STC).

Organizers said the festival seeks to highlight Yafa’s cultural identity and pass its heritage on to younger generations through annual popular activities held at Al-Qarah Castle, one of the region’s most symbolic historical landmarks.

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Scenes from the Al-Qarah Heritage Festival, featuring an exhibition of ancient Yafa'i artifacts, collectibles, and antiquities#south24 pic.twitter.com/ia9x8ofeQg

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Al-Qarah has gained renewed cultural significance after being submitted by Yemen to UNESCO’s Tentative List in June 2025. The UNESCO World Heritage Centre describes Al-Qarah, located in Rasd District, as one of the most prominent geographical and historical landmarks in Yafa, known for its natural fortification, traditional architecture, stone-built structures, forts, mosques, rainwater cisterns, and historic urban character.

During the ceremony, Iskandar Hamoud Bin Harharah, a descendant of Yafa’s historic sultanate families, called for strengthening social cohesion and upholding local tribal customs. He also stressed the importance of education and confronting negative social phenomena, while reaffirming his rejection of the Houthi militias and praising the role of Yafa’s people on the frontlines.

Nawaf Fadhl Mohammed Aidarus Al-Afifi, another descendant of Yafa’s former ruling families, said the unity of Yafa’s people remains a vital social pillar in the South. He reaffirmed his commitment to the political aspirations of the people of South Yemen and emphasized the importance of preserving local heritage and cultural identity.

The festival featured folk performances by troupes from different areas of Yafa, including traditional dances and folklore arts linked to the region’s social memory. An accompanying exhibition displayed local handicrafts, traditional dishes, and heritage items reflecting aspects of daily life in Yafa.

Several Yafa’i poets also recited poems celebrating the region’s history, identity, and cultural legacy. Festival organizers honored three local poets in recognition of their literary and cultural contributions.

Participants said the continued annual organization of the festival reflects the importance of cultural events in preserving collective memory and connecting younger generations with Yafa’s history, especially amid the wider political, social, and security transformations in the country.

Yafa, which extends across parts of Abyan and Lahj governorates in South Yemen, is one of the region’s most historically and socially significant areas. Before the establishment of the PDRY, Yafa was associated with several sultanates and tribal entities, most notably the Afifi Sultanate in Lower Yafa and the Harharah-led authority in Upper Yafa.

Al-Qarah Castle, overlooking the surrounding mountainous landscape, remains deeply embedded in the collective memory of Yafa’s people. For many participants, holding the festival at the site is not merely a celebration of folklore, but also an annual reaffirmation of identity, continuity, and attachment to place.